Water and building sectors collaborate to address infrastructure issues

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Water UK have agreed to work together to address a range of topics of common interest, including the UK's water infrastructure.

According to the two organisations, reducing the regulatory burden and encouraging development are key objectives for the government, and this new cooperation will help the two sectors to achieve this.

Speaking to edie, Water UK's legal advisor, David Strang, said that because legislation around upgrading water infrastructure is difficult to interpret there has been a lot of conflict on whether water charges are reasonable and properly calculated.

"Because of these issues, we are trying to collaborate with the HBF and in due course other developers and organisations to see if we can find a better way of running things," he said.

The collaboration will also look at dealing with the misinterpretations around the legislation to upgrade specific infrastructure projects, such as a new sewer or new water main.

Water UK chief executive Pamela Taylor said: "There are many challenges facing the water and sewerage sector and home builders to develop the infrastructure that the country needs on terms which are acceptable to all parties. We very much look forward to working together."

HBF Executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: "Government has been calling on interested parties to be more involved in developing solutions to these challenges and we are confident that the new cooperation between our respective organisations will be an important step in that direction."